Patent GB-191416655-A (GB)
Title: A Combined Fire Extinguishing and Fumigating Plant.
Inventor: HUGHES JOHN HENRY
IPC: A61L2/00
Filed: 1914-02-28
Granted: 1915-01-14
Abstract: 16,655. Hughes, J. H., [Hughes, W., and Rielley, P. C.]. Feb. 28. Fire - extinguishing by gases, steam, and vapours.-In a combined fire-extinguishing and fumigating apparatus, inert gas, for example carbon dioxide, is drawn from a boiler or other furnace a through a cooler and a wet scrubber z by a motor-driven or other fan 14, and is then pumped to the desired place. The furnace a is provided with an auxiliary inlet valve m and baffle-plates q, r as described in Specification 17,226/13, and is mounted on a baseplate c in common with the rest of the apparatus. A throttle valve d is provided at the bottom of the furnace to regulate the air supply and for removing the waste products of combustion, the valve being operated by a handlever. The fire-bars h are cast in sections, are perforated, and rest at their inner ends on supports g mounted on a perforated plate f secured to the walls of the furnace. The cooler j consists of a casing provided with upper and lower plates k, l carrying tubes n, around which water is circulated from an inlet pipe o, and through which the gases pass from the top to the bottom. The plates k, l are forced against annular projections r, s to form tight joints by stays t, u connected together by a tube v, which is screwed into the lower stay, passes through the upper stay, and is screwthreaded at its upper end to receive a clamping-nut w bearing against the upper stay. By unscrewing the nut w and also the tube v from the lower stay, the cooling-tubes can be removed for inspection and cleaning. The scrubber consists of a series of perforated trays 2, Fig. 3, threaded on a spindle 3 with spacing-pieces, and containing coke &c. which is wetted by water from a sprinkler 11 at the top of the scrubber. The spindle 3 is provided with a handle at its upper end for removing the trays, the lowest distance-piece being secured to the spindle to allow of this. The gas is conveyed from the scrubber by a pipe 13, which is provided with an opening whereby an apparatus can be attached for combining with the gas a disinfectant &c. This apparatus consists of a chamber 19, Fig. 10, with an inlet at one end and a well 20, at the bottom of which is the outlet. The chamber is provided with containers 21, 22 for formaldehyde &c., which is allowed to flow from pipes 23, 24 into the well; and a container 27 with permanganate of potash adapted to be fed into the well. A rake 28 passing into the well is provided for mixing the contents. When flue gas can be used, for example on ships, the furnace a is cut off by a valve 29, and the gas conducted to the cooler by a connexion 30 on the pipe i. To free the gas from soot and dirt before entering the cooler, it is passed through a chamber 33, Fig. 8, with an inlet 32, and an outlet 31 connected to the pipe i, the chamber being provided with baffleplates 34, 35, a perforated plate 37 arranged adjacent a water inlet 38, and a well 36 from which the water and suspended matter are discharged by a pipe 39. Instead of this apparatus, the flue gases may be washed in the cooler j by a water-sprinkler arranged above the tubes n, the cooler being, in this case, provided with a drain-pipe and cock.